French Ligue 1

Nice 1-1 Lorient

Valentin Eysseric's late equaliser secured Nice a share of the spoils in tonight's Ligue 1 clash with fellow Europa League hopefuls Lorient at the Stade Municipal du Ray.

Eysseric coolly slotted home eight minutes from time to cancel out Lucas Mareque's 75th-minute opener for the visitors.

The draw lifted Nice to fifth in the standings, with Lorient three points and three positions worse off.

The hosts mustered the best two early chances but could not find a way past Fabien Audard.

First Neal Maupay surged into the area from Camel Meriem's pass and unleashed a curling left-footed shot which was brilliant kept out by the Lorient goalkeeper, and then the same duo linked up again for Maupay to try an overhead-kick which flew inches wide.

The visitors' first real sight of goal in the first half arrived a minute before the break, when Mareque despatched a volley from Mathias Autret's flick which spooned just over the bar.

Audard had to be alert midway through the second period to fist away a powerful attempt from Eysseric from the edge of the box, before Nice goalkeeper David Ospina pulled off a superb save to keep out Yann Jouffre's fierce free-kick.

The deadlock was finally broken 15 minutes from the end. Jeremie Aliadiere freed Mareque down the left, and he beat two defenders before despatching a fine right-footed shot past Ospina.

The lead lasted only seven minutes, though, before substitute Jeremy Pied burst down the right and fed Eysseric, who calmly placed the equaliser past Audard.

Nice could even have won it in the 87th minute when Eysseric released Kevin Anin inside the area, but he smashed his shot against the post.